Usagi Tsukino, better known by her crime fighting persona Sailor Moon, is back after a 14 year hiatus, and she's brought some of her gay friends with her. Initially published by Naoko Takeuchi as manga for Nakayoshi magazine in the early 90s, Sailor Moon's original source material and its subsequent run as a popular anime series were noted for their inclusion of complex lesbian, gay, and trangendered characters.
References to the romance between Sailor Venus and Sailor Mercury were written out of the American releases, as was that between notable villains Zoisite and Kunzite. Sailor Moon: Crystal, the latest release from Toei animation and Viz Media here in the West, seeks to restore the series with a retelling much closer to the original story.
“SAILOR MOON was groundbreaking in the way its storyline and main characters resonated with both a male and female audience,” said VIZ Media VP of Animation Brian Ige. “We're thrilled to be able to release this empowering action title uncut and in its entirety.”
The series, airing on Hulu here in the US, premiered last weekend to much internet fanfare. Featuring Kotono Mitsuishi, Usagi's original Japanese voice actress, Sailor Moon: Crystal integrates updated animation as well as a global simulcast, airing here in the States every first and third Saturday online.
Watch the trailer for Sailor Moon Crystal AFTER THE JUMP…
